Chapter 273
As everyone, including Franz, stepped outside, the gate vanished in an instant as if it had never been there.
Having experienced it several times before, it wasn’t even surprising anymore. It just felt like an event that opened occasionally.
Of course, what they experienced inside could hardly be called an event.
“Mmm-, that’s one case solved-!”
Yuna stretched both arms high into the sky, as if she were stretching her body.
Franz looked at her and let out a short sigh.
“You didn’t do anything.”
“I did, though?”
“What did you do?”
“I ate jerky.”
Then how is that any different from doing nothing?
Franz thought so and let out a soft chuckle. It seemed Yuna was trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere in her own way, so he decided to play along.
It was then. Suddenly, Yusti-ah bowed her head.
“Thank you, everyone, for going along with my stubbornness.”
It was very much like Yusti-ah to point out something that could have easily been glossed over.
It was a bit of a pity that Yuna’s efforts had come to naught because of it, but it wasn’t something to worry too much about.
'I can’t deny that it was stubbornness.'
Not only had she, who was unaccustomed to combat, participated in the battle directly, but she had also insisted on fighting alone.
It was fortunate that nothing happened in the end, but it was a situation where it wouldn’t have been strange if something had gone wrong.
Even so, the reason he hadn’t stopped her choice was that he understood her feelings.
Just as Hera had done before, it was clear that she too would try to take responsibility for what she had done.
“It’s fine. I don’t really mind.”
“I’m fine too.”
“I have done something similar before, so of course I understand.”
“You were still worrying about that?”
Franz, followed by Arian, Hera, and Yuna, answered calmly.
Did their feelings reach her? Yusti-ah’s stiff expression began to soften little by little.
“Isn’t everyone hungry? Let’s hurry up and go eat.”
With Yuna taking a step forward, the situation was completely wrapped up.
What they experienced today would surely remain in Yusti-ah’s memory for a long time, but she would undoubtedly accept it fully and stand firm once again, just as she had done until now.
“Yuna, are you still hungry even after eating all that jerky?”
“Huh? I didn’t eat that much?”
“What do you mean you didn’t eat that much when you practically ate a whole cow? Anyway, I don’t understand why you don’t gain weight even after eating like that. Honestly, it’s unfair.”
“I-I didn’t eat that much-!”
Franz smiled as he watched Yusti-ah bickering with Yuna.
How much time had passed since then? By the time everyone finished their meal and came outside, the sun was already setting over the mountain ridge.
“Then, see you next time.”
In front of the spatial teleportation device, Franz said his goodbyes to everyone.
From Arian to Hera, and Yuna, everyone exchanged greetings and took their steps naturally.
Except for exactly one person, Yusti-ah.
After hesitating for a long while, Yusti-ah soon spoke quietly.
“Franz.”
“It’s okay.”
“I haven’t said anything yet, though…?”
“Weren’t you planning to sleep over at the Magic Tower?”
“Even so, for a Saintess to sleep over is a bit…”
When his prediction missed the mark, Franz awkwardly scratched his head.
Come to think of it, Yusti-ah had never once slept over at the Magic Tower. No matter how late it got, she always returned before midnight.
“But since you seem to want it today, I’ll make an exception and sleep over.”
“Will that be okay?”
“Why not. Sometimes you need a little deviation like this. His Holiness the Pope will definitely say something, but if I tell him I was with you, he’ll let it slide.”
“Then do that.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie, so using his name was fine, but…
'It’s not like I was hoping you’d sleep over, though.'
Franz didn’t bother voicing that thought. Perhaps she needed an excuse in her own way.
“Then what should we do first? A walk? Tea time? Since we’re at it, I want to do things we normally couldn’t do…”
Yusti-ah was fully excited, like a young child out on a picnic. It was her first time sleeping over since the Hero’s Party disbanded after successfully subjugating the Demon Lord, so it was understandable.
Afterward, Franz did many things together with Yusti-ah. They wandered the streets in the late evening and ate food sold at street stalls.
Things that others enjoyed as part of their daily lives were special to her.
As time went on, it eventually became night.
The once lively street was suddenly empty of people, and even the restaurants that stayed open late had all turned off their lights and closed their doors.
Only the chirping of insects heard from beneath the streetlights made of mana stones broke the silence of the street.
Franz slowly walked down that street. Naturally, Yusti-ah was with him.
“Franz, thank you.”
“Yeah, I went through a lot of trouble because of you. Just how many places did we wander around…”
“I wasn’t talking about that?! And what do you mean you went through a lot of trouble? Are you saying it was annoying to wander around with me?!”
Yusti-ah glared at him with narrowed eyes. But that was only for a moment. Soon, she burst into laughter.
Of course, Franz hadn’t meant it seriously either. He just wanted to joke around.
When her laughter eventually subsided, Yusti-ah raised her head and looked at the sky.
“If it weren’t for you, I definitely would have ended up like that. Trapped in an illusion, chasing after a false happiness.”
“Maybe you would have. But does that matter? It’s something that didn’t even happen.”
“Anyway, that’s just like you. You can’t read the mood. At times like this, you just need to listen.”
“Really? Then I’m sorr…”
Franz couldn’t finish his sentence.
His collar grabbed by Yusti-ah’s hand, the sound of breathing heard from up close, the eyelids covering her golden eyes, and their lips met.
It was because he had been kissed by Yusti-ah.
When their pressed lips eventually parted, Yusti-ah rested her forehead against Franz’s chest.
Perhaps it was to hide her reddened face.
“Arian and Hera told me that they confessed to you.”
Franz couldn’t say anything. Whatever answer he gave would be poison at this moment.
“I’m sure you’ve already made your decision inside.”
“Yusti-ah…”
“Honestly, I’m scared. What exactly will happen on the day I hear your answer?”
Although he didn’t show it, Franz was also having similar worries. No one knew what kind of changes the decision he had made in his heart would bring.
But that didn’t mean he could just stand still. As always, he would just take a step forward, even if it was slow.
“Everything will be fine.”
“If you say so, then it must be true…”
Yusti-ah didn’t ask, even though she surely had many questions.
He didn’t know why she trusted him to such an extent, but…
Executive
* * *
After pondering for a long time over the gates that had started appearing at some point, Franz came to a conclusion.
“Beyond the gates are worldlines that have already met their destruction.”
There could be various causes for the destruction.
Natural calamities like meteorite impacts could be a cause, viewed scientifically, and abnormal phenomena caused by mana rampages could also be a cause, viewed magically.
Yuna, Hera, and Yusti-ah whom they had encountered earlier were also connected to such causes of destruction.
'Does that mean there’s a possibility of running into that guy again…'
But this one thing was certain.
Demon God Tiamat, the guy who had manifested in the world in an incomplete state and driven Franz to his death, would definitely be waiting beyond the gate.
'Maybe this time he’ll be in a complete state…'
A frown naturally formed on Franz’s forehead.
The only fortunate thing was that their side had grown stronger just as much as the other side, but since the opponent was a god, he couldn’t let his guard down.
Well, feeling like he stood a chance against a god was an ironic thing in itself, though.
Franz conveyed these facts to the Goddess. He figured there might be a way since she was a god as well.
“It’s not like there’s no way at all…”
“And that way is…?”
“For me to manifest in the world and fight directly with you, of course.”
A god manifesting in the world. It was a statement that could never be taken lightly. That was why she had brought it up so cautiously.
But it was also the most certain method. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a god for a god was the most appropriate response.
The problem was…
“For me to manifest completely in this state, an enormous amount of preparation will be needed.”
Just as Deliaspi Dyne had manifested the Demon God after decades of planning, their side would need a comparable amount of preparation.
It would be great if the gate waited for that entire process, but there was a possibility it wouldn’t.
“But if it’s just borrowing a body to manifest briefly, it’s possible, you know? It doesn’t require that much preparation either.”
“Then will you be borrowing Yusti-ah’s body after all?”
“That might be a bit difficult because that child ended up being chosen by another god besides me.”
He didn’t even need to ask to know who the other god she was referring to was.
Her resentful gaze was directed at none other than Franz himself.
It seemed that was what had happened when Yusti-ah’s divine power grew even stronger a while ago.
Since it wasn’t something he did intentionally, he felt a bit wronged, but he couldn’t bring himself to deny it.
“So about that. There happens to be one suitable girl right around you, you know?”
“…Who is that?”
“Your secretary’s faith is a little lacking, but please do something about that part.”
It seemed the Goddess had taken a liking to Arian’s body.